The Greater London Lieutenancy supports the Monarch and the Royal Family in Greater London, and in addition, we are a bridge-builder, connecting individuals, organisations and social networks, to enhance Londoners’ sense of belonging and therefore, increase social inclusion within the capital.

This site will inform and update you about how Her Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of Greater London and the Lieutenancy can support and represent all residents of Greater London. In particular, we invite you to discover how the Lieutenancy can help you or your organisation, acting as a conduit to the Royal Family, the National Honours system, giving recognition to voluntary service, faith groups and charitable organisations.

Mr Kenneth Olisa OBE was appointed on 29th May 2015 and will serve until he is 75 years old.

Ken is a businessman and philanthropist, the founder of two technology merchant banks and the first British-born black man to serve as a Director of a FTSE-100 company (Reuters). An advocate of social inclusion, he is President and former Chair of Thames Reach, a charity working to shelter and resettle the homeless; Chair of the Shaw Trust, supporting the disabled and chronically unemployed to find work; founding Chair of the Powerlist Foundation, supporting future leaders from BME and disadvantaged backgrounds; a former Governor of the Peabody Trust; and a former Non-Executive Director of the West Lambeth NHS Trust.

Ken lives in Hampton Wick with his wife, Julia. They have two grown-up daughters and six grandchildren.

Ken said: “The role of Her Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of Greater London is to uphold the dignity of the Crown and to follow the example of The Queen by providing Londoners with a focus for national identity, unity and pride.

The expectations of the Lieutenancy are evolving. As a consequence of that evolution, support for the Monarch’s work in widening the sense of belonging amongst all her people will assume much greater emphasis. This mission resonates with me as I have made advancing social inclusion my life’s work. Consequently, I intend through my appointment, to use the Lieutenancy’s considerable influence to build bridges between Londoners and their institutions to increase the collective sense of belonging and pride.”

The post of Lord-Lieutenant of a county or major city is an honorary appointment, whose origin dates back to King Henry VIII. A Lord-Lieutenant’s responsibilities are wide ranging, and to assist him in these he may appoint a Vice Lord-Lieutenant and Deputy Lieutenants. The size and complexity of Greater London has resulted in some specific arrangements for its Lieutenancy.

From royal visits, presentations and awards, to establishing supportive links with local government, charities, the military and youth organisations, the Lord-Lieutenant and his team fulfil many roles. A principal purpose of the Lieutenancy is to facilitate the myriad ways by which the Monarch is kept aware of what is happening among her people.

A range of pictures and video clips of past events within the Greater London Lieutenancy, such as Royal visits, the Diamond Jubilee and work with uniformed youth organisations, illustrate the variety of work undertaken by the Lord-Lieutenant of Greater London and his team.